Gabby Obertan Could Start Today

Alan Pardew is big on statistics, and all the information he and the Newcastle coaches get after a game are studied – to see who played well – and how the team played as a whole.

Gabby Obertan in action
And in the last few games starting at Stoke City the stats show that Newcastle are indeed doing very well – expect for the results since we’ve lost all but one of those last four games.

But Alan Pardew seems upbeat and obviously is hoping for a win this afternoon:

“We think the stats do back up that we are playing better.” “The stats proved we had 40-odd passes more than Manchester City last week and they are a very fluid team.”

“That goes into the stats from the previous three games. We have had more shots on target than the opposition, something we didn’t have against West Ham, Swansea and some other games.”

“We are starting to get the right sort of feeling.” “I thought we were brave in the second half against City to come out as we did against the champions and get back into the game.”

“And there is a message for the players – you do need to take risks to win games in the Premier League.” “You need to be bold, as we were in the second half last week, and we got a reward for it, if not a win.

“I could put being bold into a number of aspects of a football match.” “It could be making a forward run, a forward pass or it could be in terms of positional play at defending.”

“But if you get edgy and negative, and starting thinking about not getting into certain positions, then you are in trouble.”

Alan talks there about the players need to be bold – but the manager also needs to be bold in his team selection and how he has the team play.

And we have a feeling that Alan Pardew will start Gabby Obertan today – after the French U21 International has recovered from his toe injury, and his speed and skill down the right wing could be a boon today for the Magpies.

Gabby has made 13 appearances this season with one tremendous goal against Marseilles at St. James’ Park and he’s showed in a few of those games that he can be a very good player.

That’s what we need form Gabby today if he gets a game – and we think the Newcastle manager will start the 23 year-old today.

Just watch when they score today williamson will either score a og or be standing infront of krul blocking his view…cisse or tarrabt will take the piss outa williamson all day I would fire perch in there

In honor of two dedicated Newcastle fans, who lost their lives supporting Newcastle United, when their passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine on Thursday July 17th, 2014 by rebels, as they were traveling to support the team in New Zealand.

We will never forget them.

Fantasy League

Mark Harding has again set up the Fantasy League for our readers for this season.

The new code is 3641-1656 and people can set up the league here:

http://fantasy.premierleague.com

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Health Update - 4 Feb, 2015

I had another battery of medical tests early last week, and the results show my PSA count as undetectable, which means the prostate cancer is still under control, and there is no trace of cancer in the body.

I'm very pleased about that!

Ed Harrison

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What Is A Football Club?

“What is a club in any case?"

“Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it.

It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes."

“It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city."

“It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.”